Facts About Refractive Errors

Treatment Method:	Visual aids (glasses or contact lenses), laser treatment, or lens implantation
Treatment Duration:	Depends on the chosen method of treatment
Anesthesia:	Local anesthetic eye drops
Clinic Stay:	Outpatient procedure
Aftercare:	Rest, depending on the selected treatment method

The term refractive error refers to suboptimal optical properties of the eye. The interaction between the refractive power of the eye’s lens and the resulting focal point of incoming light does not match the length of the eyeball.

Below, we take a closer look at nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and age-related farsightedness (presbyopia).

Nearsightedness (Myopia)

Nearsighted patients can see objects clearly up close, while objects that are farther away appear blurry. In most cases of nearsightedness, the eye has grown too long. As a result, the focal point of incoming light rays falls in front of the retina instead of directly on it.

Nearsightedness

Kurzsichtigkeit, Augenärzte Linz, Dirisamer Luft Priglinger

Farsightedness

Farsighted patients can see distant objects clearly, but nearby objects appear blurry. In cases of farsightedness, the eye is usually too short. As a result, light rays are (virtually) focused behind the retina. Optical correction involves increasing the eye's refractive power by shifting the focal point forward onto the retina.

Farsightedness

Weitsichtigkeit, Augenärzte Linz, Dirisamer Luft Priglinger

Astigmatism

Astigmatism, also known as irregular curvature of the cornea, is a type of refractive error that affects both near and distant vision. Patients see objects up close as well as far away distorted or blurry. A single point is perceived as a line. The cause is usually the uneven shape of the cornea of the eye.

Astigmatism

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is the result of the aging process of the lens. Over the course of life, the lens loses its elasticity and with it the ability to adjust focus for different distances (accommodation). This "loss of accommodation," which is usually noticed between the ages of 40 and 50, is a normal process and affects everyone without exception.

Presbyopia